Apparatus for machine forming extruded plastic siding

ABSTRACT

Equipment is provided for machine forming, e.g., cutting off, punching, and the like, extruded siding formed of resin materials. A plurality of punch blades are mounted in a linear series for punching nail holes in the hanger edge of the siding, and a cut off knife and notching punches are mounted on a carriage and provide for cut off of lengths of the siding and for notching out portions of the hanger and butt edges, to facilitate overlapping of the siding upon installation.

[151 3,656,385 [4 1 Apr. 18, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR MACHINE FORMINGEXTRUDEDPLASTICSIDING X 0 mm 3 00B 3 M00. r C k U r B 4 9 l 1. l 9 1 v 26 2 [72] Inventor: Sol B. Kimbrell, McPherson, Kans.

........83/300 ggert, ....83/315 X Sarka....;........... ....83/300 X O2 4 9 l 1 l 6 3 l 0 2 [73] Assignee: Certain-Teed Products Corporation,Ardmore, Pa.

3,082,656 3/1963 Day,.lr.eta1........................83/599X [22] Filed:Mar. 10, 1970 Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost Attorney-Synnestvedt &Lechner [21] App1.No.:

[52] US. 83/293, 83/294, 83/320, 83/599 ABSTRACT Equipment is providedfor machine formin punching, and the like, extruded sidi [51] Int. 9/00g, 6.8,, cutting ff [58] Field ofSearch....................83/599,620,319, 320, 303, ng f d f i mated. 83/300, 369, 286, 293, 294, 405, 315,316, 317 als. A plurality of punch blades are mounted in a linear seriesae o i amamfi g m .la e m m n. mub m wsbmm t l 01 ed 5 Om nm W 6 as Ugmf .m g d or I. 68 F rS g a mn m gm nm g W cke m n h D euf l fe 7 w ommGm MMO f m h no m ct m ub G mc m nu w 8 nh u emm .mmmm w hnv Cko n rnmM." p Can fm mmc .mcancm 3 X X 02 0N9 Boon 3n3 mm S m Tm N m m E u n m mm A m m U P. u S Hm mm mTm m a m m mm C n S ec e MBP R E H615 N2 6 999111 927 1 8 0 277 1.5.1 m w l. 1. 6 1 3 PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 SHEET 1 CFl/V VENTOR 50L B. K/MBRELL .BY 7

A TTORNEKS PATENTEDAPR 181972 3,656,385

sum 2 BF 3 R m a I ,4 0/ I x w' PATENTEDAPRIWHTZ 3,656,385

SHEEI 3 OF 3 INVENTOF? J'oL. B. KIMBRELL A TTORNE 5 APPARATUS FORMACHINE FORMING EXTRUDED PLASTIC SIDING The invention relates toapparatus for use in the manufacture of siding formed of resin materialsand is particularly concerned with machine forming equipment adapted toperform operations upon extrudedsiding afterit has solidified. Variousfeatures of the invention are especially adapted for use in theproduction of siding having hanger and butt edges with an interveningpanel-in, which it is desired to have the siding cut off to providepieces or elements of predetermined length which are adapted to beoverlapped not only vertically, as with siding boards of the clapboardtype, but also adapted to be overlapped horizontally, endwise of thesiding elements.

One of the principalobjects of the invention is to provide an improvedpunching mechanism for punching a series of nail holes in the hangeredge portion of the siding, this mechanism being arranged to providemore unifonn nail hole than has been practicable heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of sidingcut off equipment and to provide in association therewith certainnotching punches adapted to effect cut out operations on portions of thehanger and butt edges.

Still further, it is a general object of the invention to arrange all ofthe desired punching, cut off and notching mechanisms in a mannerproviding for performance of all of these operations during the feed ofthe siding from the extruder, and without separate handling operations,so that the entire manufacture of the siding is completed in one pass orfeed path extended from the extruder.

How the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained willappear more fully from the following description referring to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of a sidingproduction line including at least a diagrammatic indication ofequipment for performing all major phases of the manufacturingoperation, this production line being typical of the type of productionline to which the machine forming equipment of the present invention isparticularly adapted;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of a piece of one end of a sidingboard or element cut from the siding produced by the production line ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective general assembly view of the various componentsof machine forming equipment constructed and arranged according to thepresent invention, this equipment comprising only a portion of theoverall production line shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of portions of the equipmenttaken substantially as indicated by the line 44 applied to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, with certain parts in horizontal section, takenas indicated by the line 5-5 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the nail hole punchingequipment which also appears in FIGS. 1 and 3; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of certain parts shown in FIG. 6.

Although the equipment of the present invention is adapted for use inthe production of siding of a variety of specific forms, the formillustrated in FIG. 2 is typical and in fact is a form for which theembodiment of the equipment shown is especially adapted.

The siding element or piece, of which a portion is shown in FIG. 2,includes an upper hanger edge 8 and a lower butt edge 9, with anintervening panel 10, at least the lower portion of which is curved,with the convex side presented outwardly. The hanger edge includes acurved nailing strip 11 with its convex side adapted to be placedagainst the siding supporting surface, this nailing strip having punchednail holes in the form of elongated slots indicated at 12. The butt edgeincludes a strip 13 with an upwardly turned inner lip 14 which isadapted to enter behind the clip strip 15 of a subjacent siding element,when the elements are installed upon a supporting wall.

The end portion or corner of the hanger edge is notched out as indicatedat 16 at one end of the siding element, and in addition a portion of thebutt edge is also notched out as is inpunching dicated at 17. Thesenotched out corners facilitate overlapping of siding elements in end toend relation when they are installed.

Siding of the kind just described is advantageously formed of resinmaterial, such as polyvinyl chloride resin materials and in theformation of such siding the resin material are fed to an extruderindicated generally at A. The extruder forces the 'plasticated resinmaterial in heated condition through a nozzle structure B having adischarge orifice generally conforming with the cross sectional shape ofthe siding. If desired the siding may then be embossed to impart agrained texture to its exposed surface, for instance by means of theembossing roll arrangement indicated in outline at C in FIG. 1.

Following the embossing thesiding may be passed through a cooling andshaping unit indicated generally at D, in which the siding is shaped andthe resin material cooled in order to solidify it.

The siding next enters the puller or haul off mechanism E from which itis delivered to the machine forming station indicated generally by theletter Fin FIG. 1 and incorporating variousv of the mechanisms anddevices fully described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7inclusive.

Upon delivery from the machine forming station F the siding is completedand is received upon the table G where it remains until each piece orelement of predetermined length is cut off.

The details of the mechanisms indicated at A, B, C, D, E and G need notbe considered herein as they form no part of the present invention perse.

Attention is now called to the fact that the siding is indicated in FIG.3 in dot and dash lines at S as it passes in its feed path through theequipment shown in that figure. The siding is similarly indicated in dotand dash lines in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, and in FIG. 4 the siding S is shownin cross section in the region adjacent to the cut off station.

As seen in various of the figures, the machine forming equipment ismounted upon supporting elements 18. Carriage mounting rods or guides 19extend lengthwise of the path of feed of the siding over the supportingstructure 18, and two separate independently movable carriages aremounted upon these rods.

One of the carriages is made up of structural pieces 20 having rollersor wheels 21 fitting and riding upon the rods 19. This carriage servesto mount a bracket 22 to which an arm 23 is pivotally connected as at24. The pivot is arranged generally transverse to the path of feed ofthe siding S and is horizontally disposed so that the arm 23 may swingdownwardly and upwardly toward and away from the siding. This armcarries a linear series of punches or punch blades 25 (see particularlyFIG. 6), each of which has an inclined cutting edge so as to provide ashear action when engaging the siding. Beneath the siding, and alsocarried upon the carriage structure 20, a die 26 is provided, this diehaving a series of openings or apertures respectively cooperating withthe punch blades 25.

By virtue of this arrangement, i.e., the employment of the linear seriesof punch blades with individual die openings cooperating therewith, itis practical to provide die apertures close to the dimensions of thepunch blades, and this in turn increases the uniformity of holepunching, especially as compared with punch arrangements heretofore usedin which punch blades were provided upon a rotative punch mountingwheel. The punch blades here employed are, of course, of elongated crosssection so as to produce the desired elongated nail holes 12.

In consequence of the use of this punch arrangement, including punchesand punch holes fonned to relatively close tolerances, it is alsopossible to employ the punches for longer periods without resharpeningof the punch blades.

The punch arm 23 is adapted to be actuated periodically, preferablyafter advance of the siding a distance equal to the length of the linearseries of punches, so that the punches will again come into operation inorder to continue punching uniformly spaced nail holes throughout theentire length of the siding being made. For this purpose, a meteringwheel 27 is provided, this wheel being mounted independently of thecarriage 20, for instance by means of a yoke 28 carried on the framingelements 18. This metering wheel has a friction surface in engagementwith the siding as it is advanced in its feed path. The metering wheelcarries a pin 29 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) adapted to trip the micro-switch 30which in turn controls the introduction of fluid pressure into thecylinder 31. The cylinder has an actuating piston (not shown) thereinwith a piston rod 32 extended downwardly and pivotally linked with thefree end of the punch arm 23 as indicated at 33. The cylinder 31 ismounted upon the carriage 20 by means of the yoke 34. As will beunderstood, various control devices may be interposed between themicro-switch 30 and the fluid pressure supply to the cylinder 31, andthese details need not be considered herein.

Although the tripping of the micro-switch and the engagement of thepunch blades 25 with the siding may serve to advance the carriage withthe siding in its feed path, if desired power mechanism may be added forthe purpose of moving the carriage during the punching operation. Such apower mechanism may comprise a piston and cylinder device indicated at35, the piston 36 of which is connected to an arm 37 rigidly fastened tothe carriage structure 20. This piston and cylinder device 35 may betripped automatically by the same micro-switch 30 as is employed toactuate the piston and cylinder device 31 for the punch arm 23.

A punch device indicated at 38 is mounted upon the carriage 20 and isprovided for the purpose of punching weep holes such as indicated at 13ain the butt edge of the siding shown in FIG. 2. This punch may beactuated by a piston and cylinder device 39 and is preferably triggeredalong with the nail hole punches periodically in consequence of rotationof the metering wheel 27.

The return motion of various of the devices described just above may beeffected in various ways, for instance as a result of the action ofsprings within the cylinders of devices 31, 35 and 39.

After leaving the region of the carriage 20 and the devices carriedthereby, the siding enters the region of a second carriage mounted uponthe runners or guide rods 19. This second carriage comprises structuralparts 40 having guide rollers or wheels 41 riding upon the rods 19. Thiscarriage is preferably power actuated as by means of the piston andcylinder device indicated at 42 having a projecting piston rod 43connected with the arm 44 which is fastened to the carriage structure40. The devices mounted upon this carriage include the cut off knife 45which is pivoted at 46 and which is adapted to be actuated by the pistonand cylinder device 47 having a projecting rod 48 pivotally connectedwith the free end of the cutoff knife. A cooperating anvil or shearingedge is provided on a part 49 lying beneath the siding S (seeparticularly FIG. 4).

For the purpose of firmly holding the siding during the shearingoperation, a pair of clamping devices 50 and 51 are mounted upon thecarriage 40, these clamps being respectively located downstream andupstream of the shear line. The clamps serve to tightly grip the sidingagainst the anvil parts 49 and 52 which lie beneath the siding, one suchpart 49 being referred to above in connection with FIG. 4, and both ofthem being shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The clamps 50 and 51 are interconnected through a common frame and aremounted by means of arms 53 which are pivoted to the supporting yokes 54and 55 which extend upwardly from the carriage structure 40 and servenot only to mount the clamping pads but also to mount the piston andcylinder device 47 for actuating the cut off knife. Still further theframes 54 and 55 serve to mount the piston and cylinder device 56 havinga piston rod 57 pivotally connected with the arms 53 for mounting theclamping pads 50 and 51.

The cut off knife 45 also carries near its pivoted end a notching punch58 positioned and shaped to effect the cut out 16 in the hanger edge ofthe siding, as shown in FIG. 2.

For the purpose of notching out the butt edge as indicated at 17 in FIG.2, the carriage 40 further serves to mount a notching punch 59 adaptedto be actuated by the piston and cylinder device 60.

As with the several devices associated with the carriage 20, the devicesassociated with carriage 40 may similarly be moved in the returndirection by means of return springs provided, for example, in thevarious piston and cylinder devices such as those marked 42, 47, 56 and60. If desired the return motion of the carriages may alternatively beeffected by fluid pressure control system adapted to move the pistonswithin the cylinders in the carriage-return direction.

Although various specific control systems may be employed in connectionwith the operation and actuation of the devices mounted upon thecarriage 40, the following is a preferred sequence of operations:

First note that in FIG. 1 at 61 a limit or trip switch is indicated,this switch preferably being positioned upon the table G at a distancefrom the location of the cut off knife 45 slightly less than the desiredlength of the siding pieces or elements. When the siding trips thisswitch, the switch actuates the piston and cylinder device 56 so as toclamp the product to the carriage 40. The power cylinder 42 for movingthe carriage is then also actuated and after travel for a shortdistance, for instance about 1 inch, the carriage actuates anotherswitch (not shown), thereby actuating the piston and cylinder device 60for the notching punch 59. When the notching punch has been actuated andagain withdrawn, the control for the piston and cylinder device 47 ofthe cut off knife is tripped and the knife 45 effects the cut off of thedesired length of siding and also notches out the corner 16 of thehanger edge. Retraction of the cutoff knife then trips the control torelease the clamps 50 and 51, after which the carriage 40 returns to itsstarting positron.

By arranging the various machine forming devices upon the two carriagesin the manner above referred to, a desirable sequence of operations iseffected and this is accomplished in continuous flow of the product fromthe extruder and without any intermediate handling or rehandling ofsiding pieces. Moreover, the nail hole punching operation progressesuniformly throughout the entire length of the siding in advance of thetime of cut off of individual siding pieces, in consequence of theaction of the metering wheel riding on the surface of the siding. Sincethe carriages 20 and 40 and the equipment carried thereby are locateddownstream of the haul off mechanism F, the siding has steady anduniform feed to and through the machine forming devices.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for use in machine forming extruded resin siding havinghanger and butt edges with an intervening panel, comprising mechanismfor punching spaced nail holes in the hanger edge including means forguiding the extruded siding endwise through a predetermined feed path, aplurality of punch blades mounted in a linear series at one side of thefeed path, die mechanism at the opposite side of the feed path andhaving a linear series of die openings for cooperating respectively withthe several punch blades, means for periodically actuating the punchblades as the siding advances through the feed path, a first carriagefor mounting said punch and die mechanism, said first carriage beingmounted for motion in the direction of feed of the siding through saidfeed path during the punching operation, mechanism for cutting offsiding pieces of predetermined length located downstream from said punchand die mechanism, said cutting off mechanism including means forguiding the extruded siding endwise through a predetermined feed pathand a cut off knife, said cutting off mechanism being mounted on asecond carriage movable independently of said first carriage and mountedfor motion in the direction of feed of the siding through said feed pathduring the cut off operation, and means for periodically actuating theknife as the siding advances through the feed path.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a pivoted arm for mountingthe punch blades, and further in which the means for periodicallyactuating the blades comprises power mechanism connected with the blademounting arm.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including a meteringwheel running in engagement with the siding as it advances through itsfeed pathand control mechanism operated by the metering wheel toperiodically actuate the punch blades.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including a punch mountedon said first carriage for punching a weep hole in the butt edge of thesiding when the nail hole punches are actuated.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including power means foradvancing the first carriage with the siding during the punchingoperation.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including, a notchingpunch mounted on said second carriage for removing a portion of thehanger edge of the siding, clamping means mounted on the second carriagefor holding the siding during the cut off and notching operations, andmeans for periodically actuating the notching punch as the through thefeed path.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the clamping means includesclamps located both upstream and downstream of the cut off knife.

8. Apparatus for use in maching forming extruded resin siding havinghanger and butt edges with an intervening panel, comprising mechanismfor cutting off siding pieces of predetermined length and for notchingout portions of the hanger and butt edges at one end of the sidingpieces, said mechanism including means for guiding the extruded sidingendwise through a predetermined feed path, a cut off knife, a notchingpunch for removing a portion of the hanger edge of the siding, commonmounting means for said knife and said punch, a notching punch mountedindependently of the cut off knife for notching out a portion of thebutt edge of the siding pieces, a common carriage for the cutoff knifeand both of the notching punches, and means for periodically actuatingthe knife and notching punches as the siding advances through the feedpath, the carriage being mounted for motion in the direction of feed ofthe siding through said feed path during Siding advances 20 the cut offand notching operations.

1. Apparatus for use in machine forming extruded resin siding havinghanger and butt edges with an intervening panel, comprising mechanismfor punching spaced nail holes in the hanger edge including means forguiding the extruded siding endwise through a predetermined feed path, aplurality of punch blades mounted in a linear series at one side of thefeed path, die mechanism at the opposite side of the feed path andhaving a linear series of die openings for cooperating respectively withthe several punch blades, means for periodically actuating the punchblades as the siding advances through the feed path, a first carriagefor mounting said punch and die mechanism, said first carriage beingmounted for motion in the direction of feed of the siding through saidfeed path during the punching operation, mechanism for cutting offsiding pieces of predetermined length located downstream from said punchand die mechanism, said cutting off mechanism including means forguiding the extruded siding endwise through a predetermined feed pathand a cut off knife, said cutting off mechanism being mounted on asecond carriage movable independently of said first carriage and mountedfor motion in the direction of feed of the siding through said feed pathduring the cut off operation, and means for periodically actuating theknife as the siding advances through the feed path.
 2. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 including a pivoted arm for mounting the punchblades, and further in which the means for periodically actuating theblades comprises power mechanism connected with the blade mounting arm.3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including a meteringwheel running in engagement with the siding as it advances through itsfeed path and control mechanism operated by the metering wheel toperiodically actuate the punch blades.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim1 and further including a punch mounted on said first carriage forpunching a weep hole in the butt edge of the siding when the nail holepunches are actuated.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 furtherincluding power means for advancing the first carriage with the sidingduring the punching operation.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 andfurther including, a notching punch mounted on said second carriage forremoving a portion of the hanger edge of the siding, clamping meansmounted on the second carriage for holding the siding during the cut offand notching operations, and means for periodically actuating thenotching punch as the siding advances through the feed path. 7.Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the clamping means includesclamps located both upstream and downstream of the cut off knife. 8.Apparatus for use in maching forming extruded resin siding having hangerand butt edges with an intervening panel, comprising mechanism forcutting off siding pieces of predetermined length and for notching outportions of the hanger and butt edges at one end of the siding pieces,said mechanism including means for guiding the extruded siding endwisethrough a predetermined feed path, a cut off knife, a notching punch forremoving a portion of the hanger edge of the siding, common mountingmeans for said knife and said punch, a notching punch mountedindependently of the cut off knife for notching out a portion of thebutt edge of the siding pieces, a common carriage for the cut off knifeand both of the notching punches, and means for periodically actuatingthe knife and notChing punches as the siding advances through the feedpath, the carriage being mounted for motion in the direction of feed ofthe siding through said feed path during the cut off and notchingoperations.